“Any fool can write a book and most of them are doing it; but it takes brains to build a house.”
–Charles Fletcher Lummis
One sign of a thriving economy is the orange barrels, cranes in the air and construction fences on each corner. You can certainly see this in the Columbus Region these days. The acknowledgement of the people and the firms behind those signs usually goes unnoticed. Let’s take a moment today to offer some gratitude for the risk they take, the great work they perform and the industry as a whole.
The U.S. construction industry is huge, accounting for nearly $1.25 trillion dollars of spending each year. It is diverse, with both owners and laborers coming from all aspects of society. It is also under the same pressure as any other industry. Technology is both improving the industry and causing it competitive challenges. Geo-political forces impact its material and labor costs. Changing demographics and workforce constraints are a reflection of the clients they serve.
For economic developers and community builders, the construction industry is a powerful ally. Understanding the needs of both local contractors and the regulatory environment of your state and local area is critical to meeting clients schedule. Understanding the cost impacts that may increase or decrease projects can help you better serve your clients. Assisting them in marketing their industry to young people will promote the incredible opportunities from the job site to the executive suite in this important sector.
This week, when we see the orange barrels, the cranes in the air and the construction fences and signs – let us pause to think about their incredible contribution to our community, and what we can do to help them in their efforts to advance our economy and build better communities.
And if you’re interested…here are 60 must-know construction statistics.
-Kenny McDonald